A GORLESTON woman whose family has been devastated by cancer has revealed how her great aunt has left a legacy to the Palliative Care East Appeal. A £100,000 legacy of Cobholm couple Bob and Joan Ship has been left to the £1.

A GORLESTON woman whose family has been devastated by cancer has revealed how her great aunt has left a legacy to the Palliative Care East Appeal.

A £100,000 legacy of Cobholm couple Bob and Joan Ship has been left to the £1.5m appeal, which will see a dedicated palliative care centre built in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital. Supporters say it will provide terminally ill patients with first class clinical care alongside complementary therapies.

Appeal organisers have said the donation is a major step forward in the fundraising campaign with the appeal pot now standing at more than £600,000.

The couple's great niece Lynn Lakey said her great aunt and uncle had always wanted to help the local community.

“Bob and Joan were totally devoted to each other. They didn't have children and when Bob became ill they decided that because they had lots of nieces and nephews they would leave the money to something which would make a difference to the lives of local people.”

Bob and Joan Ship lived in Cobholm all their lives and Lynn explained that her great uncle was pictured pushing a boat when the area was devastated by the 1953 floods.

“During the floods he helped rescue horses from the marshes and he was pictured in the Mercury at the time,” said Lynn.

Lynn, who works at the James Paget in the pain relief department, lost her father Bernard Davey to cancer in 2006 and tragically in February this year her husband John died after a long brave battle with cancer.

Lynn said a dedicated palliative care centre was “badly” needed and that it would complement the “good” care currently given to cancer patients at the hospital.

The family has already donated £1,500 to the appeal in lieu of flowers at John's funeral this year.

Forthcoming events being held in aid of the appeal including the James Paget University Hospital fete on Sunday ; the annual Ladies Summer Luncheon at the Cliff Hotel next Thursday ; an 80s night in Bradwell next Saturday ; a night of entertainment including singing, dancing and horse racing at the Hamilton Hotel in Yarmouth on August 22.

For information on the above events or to hold a fundraising event, contact Jenny Westgate on 01493 453348. Donations can be sent by post to the James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust Palliative Care Appeal, Palliative Care Team, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA. Cheques should be made payable to Palliative Care East.

wDonations can be made online at www.palliative-care-east.org.uk

Recent donations include: Mrs M Doe £15; Raynscourt Hotel £19.59; Rockfields £24.13; Lound Garden Centre £16.10; Kerrys Florists £11.54; Aubergine Restaurant £47.25; My Plaice fish shop £39.68; Lazzarella £14.46; Rainbow card shop £23.10; Ivy Farm Dairy £80.77; Mr M Bailey £25; Mr A Harlow £342.50; professor and Mrs Harvey £85; Mrs R Kirby £20; Mr and Mrs C Milburn £300; Mr A Strachan £20; Anglia Boiler Maintenance £140; Mr and Mrs P Durrant £254.50; Yarmouth Lions Club £500; Mr and Mrs Blake £10; Mr M Bailey £25; Joanne Willows £20; April Cooper and girls £5; Andrew Strachan £20; Stokesby Hall coffee morning £120; Mrs C Ebbage £20; Beevor Farms £2,000; Goose Green Nurseries £395.59; P Weavers £15; Mrs J G Bolch £23,000; East of England Co-op society in memory of Gladys Wing £40; Beccles and District Lions club £1,000; Adnams Cleaning Contractors £100; Gillian Mays £211.67; A Jary & Sons in memory of Evelyn Wright £240; A Jary & Sons in memory of Ronald Crowe £355; A Jary & Sons in memory of Anthony Morris £40; Mr and Mrs Swanston (antiques) £100; Degreemight £60; Dr J Jenkins £200.